Can-filling machine.



J. R. BROWN.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 10` 1901.)

Patented Nov. II, |902.

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Nn. 7i3,554, vPatented Nov. Il, |902.

J. FI. BROWN.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 10, 1901.)

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'Ne. 7I3,554. Patented Nov. II, |902.

J, R. BROWN.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Applcaticn filed Sept. 10. 1901.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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(Application filed Sept. 10, 1901,)

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No. 7|s,554. Patented Nov. u, |902. J. n. Bnown.

GAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 10, 1901.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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JOHN REITTER BROVN, OF VANCOUVER, CANADA.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

S'EECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,554, datedNovember 11, 1902.

Application filed September 10,1901. Serial No. 74,870. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, i may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN REITTER BROWN, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia,Canada, have invented a new and useful Can-Filling Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for canning sh or similar material,and is intended to receive the fish when cleaned and, if necessary,split, feed it automatically forward, press it into the desired forni tosuit thev cans to be filled, cross-cut it into sections to suit thedepth of the cans, and press it into the same. l am thus enabled todispense with a considerable amount of handling and to perform the workmore uniformly and quickly. l attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is ageneral plan of the machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation showing thefeedtrough and grip and the mechanism directly connected therewith. Fig.3 is a cross-section on the line Z) I) in Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrow b. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line c c inFig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow c. Fig. 5 isa detailelevation of the grip-operating cam in the direction of the arrow a inFig. l. Fig. 6 is a detail section of the delivery-outlet from the gripto the revolver-chamber. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the face of therevolver, showing the circular cut-off knife and its operating mechanismlooking in the direction of the arrow e in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is ahorizontal section through the revolver and its attendant gear on theline c e in Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the can-carrier andstop-plate on the line ff in Fig. 8 and in the direction of the arrow f,showing also the operating-cam and packer-piston. Fig. lO is an end viewof the can-presser-carrying frame. Fig. ll is an end elevation showingthe mechanism for operating the revolver-shaft looking in the directionof th'e arrow g in Fig. l. Fig. l2 is a side elevation of therevolver-locking gear. Fig. 13 is a plan of the same on the line h h inFig. l2. Fig. la is a vertical longitudinal section of an alternativedesign of grip, and Figs. l5 and 1G are cross-sections of the same.

l will first generally describe the operation of the machine, so thatthe detailed dscription of its mechanism may be more easily followed andunderstood.

The sh after being gutted and cleaned is, if too large, cut into stripsto facilitate the desired arrangement of skin to the outer side and islaid in the feeding-trough 48. Along this trough it is automaticallymoved by pins which are at the beginning of the stroke projected upthrough elongated slots in the trough-bottom, travel lengthwise thedesired amount, and are then lowered for the return stroke. The fish isthus moved forward with a regular intermittent motion into theforming-grip trough, of which the feeding-trough is an extension. In thegrip-trough this same forward movement of the fish is continued,but in amore positive manner, as the semicylindrical bottom, forming part of thexed frame of the machine, is composed of a series of longitudinal bars,between which is moved up a grip composed of similar bars, while auupper grip, forming a complementalsemicylinder,issimultaneouslyforceddown. Thefish is thus gripped betweenthe two and formed into a cylindrical shape, while to insure a morepositive hold the gripping-surfaces are provided with cross serations orridges, and, further, the upper grip has a series of pins, which at thebeginning of the forward movement are forced down into the body of thefish in the trough. The cylinder of fish thus formed and gripped isforced forward with the same regular intermittent motion before referredto and passing through the deliveryspout l2 enters and fills one of aseries of chambers in the revolver 59, the further end of which isclosed when opposite the spout l2 by the stopper-plate 80, fixed to theframe of the machine. The revolver is so mounted that the variouschambers may successively be brought into exact alinement with thespout. Just above the joint between spout and revolver arapidly-revolving circular knife is mounted on a swinging arm in such amanner that as soon as the forward movement of the grip ceases the knifedescends and passing between the revolver and the spout cuts off whathas been forced into the chamber 59u from the supply in the spout andgrip. The revolver is then rotated through a fraction of its revolution,corresponding to IOO the number of chambers in it, by a pawl andpawl-plate and the full chamber brought opposite to a packer-piston andto an aperture in a corresponding position in the stop-plate and lockedthere. On the opposite side of the stop-plate the cans c to be illed arereceived from a chute on one side of the machine and are picked up in acarrier secured to the same shaft as the revolver and rotating with it.The receptacles in this carrier correspond in position with the chambersof the revolver, and when the full chamber is locked opposite thepacker-piston the empty can is automatically pressed into a recesssurrounding the aperture of the stop-plate and the lish is pushed fromthe revolver-chamber into the can,which is then restored to its place inthe carrier and deposited by it in the delivery-chute 94 by the nextmovement. Thus each successive movement of the revolver takes in anempty can, delivers a full one, moves a full chamber opposite thepackerpiston, and brings a chamber to be lilled opposite the spout 12.

The several motions of the machine are derived from a shaft 6, driven bya belt on the pulley 6, with the exception of the rotation of thecircular knife, which is driven independently1 from a counter-shaftexterior to the machine.

The bed-plate 2 of the machine is sustained a short distance above thefloor on the legs 3, and on this bed-plate, supported by the pedestals5, is the main driving-shaft 6, from which the various motions of theseveral parts of the machine are derived.

Supported on the leg-frames 8 at a suitable height for operatingis thegrip-trough 9,form` ing part of the fixed frame of the machine. Thebottom of this grip-trough is composed of a series of longitudinal bars9, the upper sides of'which are shaped to a semicylindrical concavesurface. (See Fig. 3.) Surmounting this trough and slidable endwise onits upper edges is the upper grip-case 10, the forward end of which isfunnel-shaped and terminates in a thin sleeve junction-piece 11 slidablelongitudinally wit-hin the deliveryspout 12. (See Fig. 6.)

Adapted to slide longitudinally and vertically between the bars 9 of thegrip-trough are the bar members 13a of the lower grip 13, the uppersurfaces of which conform to the cross-section of the trough 9 and iffound necessary may be provided wi-thpins and cross-serations toincrease the grip. On the under side of this lower grip 13, iixed orintegral withit, are the bearer-blocks 14, which are provided (at eachside) with a stud and roller 15, adapted to move vertically in theelongated slot 16 in the pieces 16, fixed to and depending on each sidefrom the upper grip-case 10. One pair of these side pieces 16 hasdownward prolongations 16", between which on a pin 17 a rod 18 connectsto a crank-pin 19, adjustable in slots in the disks 20, (see Fig. 13,)keyed on the shaft 21, which is driven by means of the bevel-gears 22from the main driving-shaft 6.

Within the upper grip-case 10 is the upper grip 23, the under surface ofwhich is semicylindrical to correspond with the upper surfaces of thelower grip and trough-bars 13a and 9 and form a complete cylinder andbeing adapted to slide vertically in the case 10 is constrained to movelongitudinally with it by the studs or stems 24, passing through bosses10a in the top of the casing 10. A reciprocatinglongitudinal motion isthus imparted to the upper and lower grip members.

The upper grip member 23 is upwardly flared, as 23a, at the entering endand is pro vided with cross serations or ridges 23h, and it is necessarynow to provide a means whereby the upper and lower gripping members 23and 13 may be simultaneously forced together to grip the fish at thebeginning of the forward stroke and similarly drawn apart and clear ofthe iish at the end for the return stroke. I accomplish this in thefollowing manner, (see Fig. 5:) In a suitable position on thedriving-shaft 6 I key a cam 24 of special contour, and adjacent to it isplaced a rocker-shaft 25, carried in the bearing-standards 26. On theshaft 25 is keyed a lever 27, carrying a roller 28, which runs in thelateral grooves 24:a of the cam, and on the same shaft is keyed thelever 29, the spherical shaped end 29 of which enters a slot 30 in thestem 30, slidable vertically in bearings 2a and 31 provided. The contourof the cam-groove is such as to raise the stem 30, maintain it while thelever-roller traverses the concentric portion 24 b, then lower it, andconstrain it to remain down while the Vroller traverses the concentricport-ion 24?. On the stem 30 are two elongated slots 30b and 30c forconnection to the actuating-levers'of the upper and lower gripmechanism.

The upper side of the grip-case 10 is provided with supports 10b,between which are the toothed pinions 35, keyed on the short axles 34".One of these axles is prolonged and on it is keyed the lever 33, havingat its end the roller 32, adapted to work within the slot 30h. Thepinions 35 mesh together and at the outer sides mesh in short racks 36,secured to the stems 24 of the upper grip member 23.

Slidable vertically in a boss 36a, forming an extension of the rackmember 36, is a stem 37, adapted at its lower end to have a series ofpointed pins 37 secured to it, which pins are slidable through thegrip-casing 10 and the upper grip 23, and the stem 37 is actuated by theside levers 38, which, pivoted together in elongated holes at 38, areconnected to the rack member 36 by pins at 38b and to the stems 37 by apin connection at 38. The object of the slots or elongated holes 38a atthe inner ends of the levers 38 is that when in the operation of themachine the rack-sections 36 descend till the said levers are broughtinto a straight line their two ends, pivoted together, will be permittedto lap each other IIO in order that the said movement may be effected.The holes at the outer ends of the levers 33 should also be slightlyelongated in obedience to the same general law. Thus the verticalmovement of the stem 30 actuates the upper grip 23 down and up, andsimultaneously the pins 37a are projected into or withdrawn from thefish in the machine with a multiplied movement.

To actuate the lower grip member 13, I provide short shafts 41, rockablein bearings 16c toward the lower end of the side plates 16 and extendingbetween the same, and on an extension of one of these shafts is keyedthe lever 40, having a roller 39, adapted to run in the slotted opening30C. At the opposite ends of these shafts 41 are so keyed the levers 42that they can be connected by the rod 43, while fixed on the shafts 41between the side plates 16 and the bearing-blocks 14 are short levers44, each pair of which are connected together by the pins 45, carryingthe rollers 46, adapted to run in the elongated openings 14a in thebearing-blocks. The downwardand-upward movement of the stem 30 derivedfrom the cam 24 thus raises and lowers the lower grip member 13simultaneously with the lowering and raising of the upper grip, and theelongated openings 30h and 30c permit the longitudinal movement of thereciprocating parts at their connection with the stem 30, through whichthe gripping movements are communicated, while the Vertical movement ofthe grip members is permitted by the elongated openings 16 and 14".

I have described the movements of the grip members before that of thefeed members of the trough 4S because the movements of the latter arederived from the former.

The feed-trough 43,into which the fish is first placed, is an extensionof the grip-trough 9, being attached thereto at one end and is at theother end supported by the leg 49 on the bed-plate extension 2l. Thebottom of the feed-trough is semicylindrical, with vertical walls 48,and in the bottom are longitudinally-elongated openings 48h, throughwhich pointed pins 50 may be projected upward and moved along. The pins50 are fixed in the feeder-plate 51,which has also side pieces 51,(removed from the front in Fig. 2,) slidable in elongated slots 4SCclose to the walls 48a of the trough. These side pieces form a veryimportant part of the feed mechanism, as on the feeder-plate beinglifted the fish is removed from frictional contactwith the sides 4S:Land is the readier carried forward with the movement of the feed-plate.Attached to or integral with the feeder-plate 51 are the bearerblocks14, and the feeder-plate and its connections are suspended by studs androllers 52 in the vertically-elongated openings 53L in swinging links53, hanging from pins 55 on the walls 43a of the feed-trough. Thefeederplate 51 is connected by the rod 56 to the lower grip member 13,so as to travel longitudinally with it, swinging on the links 53, and atthe lower end 53b of the swinging links 53 the same system of shafts,levers, and rollers is used to effect the lifting and lowering of thefeeder-plate and pins, being connected by the rod 43 to the grip system.Means are thus provided for feeding the fish forward within thegrips,which, positively gripping and forming it into a cylindricalshape, force it through the delivery-spout 12, between which and thegrip-casing the junction-piece 11 forms a slidable connection. Theinnermost edge of this junction-piece is carefully rounded and depressedbetween the bars, as 11a, to prevent the fish catching. Thisdelivery-spout 12 is choke-bored or reduced in its diameter by taperfrom the termination of the stroke of the junction-piece 11 to itsoutlet for a reason to be explained presently.

In the alternative design illustrated in Figs. 14, 15, and 16 I use anupper grip 106X of the same construction as the lower one, 13, and forthe grip-trough 9, which formed a fixed portion of the frame, substitutean elongated tube 105, composed of bars 105, between and through whichthe upwardly and downwardly projecting grip members 13it and 106iL areslidable longitudinally and vertically. The combined interior surfacesof both grips and griptube thus form an elongated tube of a crosssectionapproximate to that of the cans it is desired to fill and tapered in avertical line (see Fig. 16) on the upper side toward the entering end,terminating in a quickening curve, as 105b 106D. The grip-tube 105merges into the choked delivery-spout 12, which in this construction maybe integral with it, the ends of the bar-slots being rounded, as 12, toprevent the passing fish catching on them. The upper surfaces of thegrip members 13a and 166a are provided with crossserrations,as 13c and106C, to better grip and press forward the fish through the spout.Mounted on the shaft 60, rotatable in the pedestals 61, is the revolver59, which contains a number of cylindrical open-ended chambers 59a, thedimensions of which correspond to the requirements of the cans to befilled, andthe revolver is so mounted that the axes of the chambers aresusceptible of exact alinement with that of the delivery-spout. Near theou ter end of the shaft 60 is keyed the pawl-plate 62, the notches 62nof which correspond to the number of chambers in the revolver. The pawl63 is carried between the radius-levers 64 and is actuated by theconnecting-rod 65 from the pin 66 of the crank-disk 67 on the shaft 6.The stroke of the crank-pin is so proportioned as to pull the revolverthrough that fraction of its rotation corresponding to the number ofchambers in the revolver. Keyed on the same shaft 60 is a brake-pulley68, around Which a strap 69 is passed, such strap being anchored to thebed of the machine at one end and at the other has a weight 69FL orspring to maintain it in contact with the pulley and set up the desiredfriction to absorb the momentum of the revolver-shaft and itsattachments.

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vframe of the machine.

AAt the under side of the revolver is a springactuated lock-bolt 70,which springs into the holes 59C provided and locks the revolver in thecorrect alinement of its chambers with the spout 12. The bolt slides ina guide 75, attached to the leg-frame 8, and is connected to a lever 71,keyed to a shaft 72, rockable in bearings on the bed-plate 2. To theouter end of the rock-shaft 72 is keyed a lever 73, to which isconnected a stem 74, which, slidable in the guide 76, fixed to thelegframe 8, carries at its upper end a projecting roller 77. At theextreme end of the shaft 21 is a disk 78, having a projection 78,adapted to engage and lift the stem 74 against the resistance of thespring 79. Thus at the proper time the bolt is withdrawn and therevolver free to rotate. The outer face of the revolver runs closeagainst the face of the stop-plate 80, which is attached by studs to thefixed This plate 80 thus forms a closure of the ends of therevolverchambers opposite the spout and between that position and thatof the packer-piston, which will be described later. Between the end ofthe delivery-spout and the revolver space is left for the passage of arapidly-revolving circular knife 82, and it is to enable the cylinder offish to pass this space without catching on the edge of the chamber andto further compress and form the fish that the bore of the spout ischoked, as referred to previously. The knife 82 is rotatably mounted ona spindle 83 in a swinging arm or lever 85, pivoted on the shaft 86,carried in bearings on the pedestals 87, and is driven at a high rate ofspeed by a belt over the pulleys 84 and 88, while a pulley 89 derivesits motion by a belt from an exterior source. The swinging arm iscontrolled and actuated to throw the knife 82 in and out of action by acam 90, keyed to the shaft which cam imparts its motion by theconnecting-rod 91, bridled over the cam and connected to a pin on theend 85?' of the arm 85. The motion of this cam is designed to bring downthe knife and return it while the grip is withdrawing for a returnstroke, and during the latter part of this rest the pawl pulls therevolver around one space, which brings the full chamber of fish,severed from what is in the spout,opposite to the compressor and anempty chamber again opposite the spout 12. Secured to the shaft 60 ofthe revolver is the can-carrier 92, having spaces 92 opposite therevolver-chambers adapted to allow empty cans C to fall int-o them fromthe chute 93, carry them around, and deliver them when filled to thechute 94. A guard 99, fixed to the stop-plate 80, holds the cans inplace until opposite the delivery-chute. In a frame 95 beyond thecarrier are the can-pressers 96, op-V posite each can-space, the stems96L of which are endwise slidable in thebosses 9511. These pressers areheld back by the springs 97 between the inner faces of the bosses 95LLand collars 9 6b on the stems. In the plate 80, opposite thepacker-piston and in exact alinement with its axis, is a circularaperture 80a, the diameter of which is slightlyless than that of the canto be filled. In order that the open ends of the cans may be easilyguided into this aperture, it is outwardly flared toward thecan-carrier,whereby is provided a beveled face, against which the can,may be pressed by the following means: On the bed of the machinebearings 2c carry a rocking shaft 98, on one end of which adjacent tothe can-carrier a lever 98b is keyed in a position to bear against thestem 96 of the can-presser when such is opposite to the aperture 80. Atthe other end of the rocker-shaft 98 an arm 98L is provided with aroller 100, adapted to travel in the groove 101u of the cam 101, keyedor otherwise fixed to the shaft 6. The groove of the cam is such as tocause the can to be pressed into the flared opening 80a and held tightlyagainst the beveled face, while the packer-piston forces the fish fromthe charnber 593. The pressure on the stern 96a is then relieved, sothat the final part of the stroke of the packer-piston may force the canout of the aperture 80a and clear of the plate.

The dared mouth to the aperture 80:t not only centers the can, butrectiiies the circle of its outline.

The packer-piston before referred to is opposite to the aperture 80 ofthe stop-plate and in exact alinement with the center of it and theaxisof the revolver-chamber when locked, and consists of a piston 102,(see Fig. 8,) having a stem 102, slidable axially in a bearing 8fL onthe frame of the machine. A slot 102b in the stem of the packer-pistonreceives the end of a lever 104D, keyed to a rockershaft 104, rockablein bearings 2b, while an arm 10aa, carrying a roller 106, adapted towork in a groove 107a of the cam 107, receives motion from suitableinclines in the cam-groove. The inclines in the camgroove 107 n are suchthat as soon as the revolver is locked the packer-piston is movedforward and presses the fish from the chamber 59 into the can C, pressedinto the aperture 80a to receive it, and withdrawn thereafter. Pins 102cin the packer-piston engage the edges of the can to move it back clearof the plate 80 toward the latter part of the packer-piston stroke,grooves 59h being provided to allow such. Through the thickness of thepiston is a series of small holes 102V, having shallow countersinks onthe face to prevent any sucker action on the withdrawal of it fromcontact with the fish in the can, and tapered V-shaped pieces 59dproject into the bore ofthe chamber, which form depressions in the fishto allow the air to escape from the can as the iish is forced in. Thefish being pressed into the can and the packerpiston withdrawn, therevolver is turned through the next space, the full can is dischargedinto the chute 94:, a full chamber brought opposite the packer-piston,and a chamber to be lled opposite the spout 12.

Although the cross section of the grip,

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spout, and revolving chambers has been described and drawn throughout asfor cylindrical cans, it is obvious that the shape is not material, asthe same mechanism is equally applicable for oval or rectangular cans,if such are required.

Having now particularly described my invention, what l claim as new, anddesire to be protected in by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. ln a machine of the class described, a feed-trough adapted to receivethe fish when ready for canning, having through its bottom a series oflongitudinally-elongated openings; a feeder-plate suitably supportedbeneath such trough, having a series of pointed pins spaced to enterthrough and be moved along the apertures provided in the troughbottom;and means whereby such pins may be projected through, moved along andwithdrawn within the apertures.

2. In a machine of the class described, a feed-trough in which the fishto be canned is placed; longitudinally-elongated Openings in the bottom,and longitudinal slots .or openings extending throughout the length ofthe trough adjacent to the side walls thereof; a feeder-plate beneaththe trough; pointed pins on the upper side of the plate; upwardlyturnedsides on the feeder-plate; links suspending such feeder-plate from thetrough; means whereby the feeder-plate may be lifted and lowered toproject and withdraw the pins and side plates in theopenings provided inthe bottom of the trough; and means whereby the feeder-plate may have anendwise-reciprocating motion imparted to it.

3. In a machine of the class described, a trough composed oflongitudinal bars, and forming part of the fixed frame of the machine;suitably supported beneath the trough, a lower gripping member, havingupwardlyprojecting bars slidable vertically and longitudinally betweenthe bars of the trough, and having serrations across their uppersurfaces; slidably supported on the upper edges of the trough, so as tobe susceptible of end motion thereon, an upper grip-casing; an uppergrip having cross serrations vertically slidable within the casing;means for pressing the lower and upper grip members together; means forimparting a longitudinal reciprocating motion to both grip members; adeliveryspout forming the termination and completion of the lowergrip-trough; a thin junction-sleeve attached to the upper grip- Casin gand slidable within the delivery-spout, the entering edge of such beingrounded and depressed between the bars of the lower griptrough; andmeans for cutting off sections of the fish as it is pushed through thedeliveryspout, and for filling such sections into cans.

4L. In a machine as described, having a feedtrough into which the supplyof fish is placed, and along which it is moved into a device for formingit into the desired shape; a frame or frames carrying a number ofpointed pins attached to and longitudinally movable with the forming andgripping device, and slidable vertically t-herethrough into the body ofthe fish; and means whereby such pins may be forced into and withdrawnfrom the fish with a movement simultaneous with that of the gripmembers, but greater than it.

5. ln a machine for the purpose described,a receiving-trough, havingelongated slots in its bottom; a series of pins coperating with saidslots; means for projecting the same up through the slots and movingthem forward therein the desired distance, and returning them inposition for a repetition of the operation; a forming device for themass of fish, a deliveryspout having a tapered outlet; a junotion-sleeve, slidable within the deliveryspout, a receiving-chamberadjacent to the spout, and in alinement therewith; a knife for severingbetween the chamber and the spout, and means for transferring thesevered section of fish from the chamber to a can.

6. In a machine for the purpose specied, in combination with afeed-trough and griptrough having an upper grip-casing and upper andlower grip members; suitably supported above the bed-plate of themachine, the shaft 6; bevel-gears 22, driving the crossshaft2l;crank-disks 20; crank-pin 19 in such, of adjustable throw; theconnecting-rod. 18; side pieces 16 depending from the slidable grip-casel0, to a pin between which the rod 18 is connected; the studs androllers l5 attached to the lower grip member and engaging invertically-elongated openings 16 in the side plates; and the couplingrod56; by means of which mechanism reciprocating longitudinal motion may beimparted to the upper and lower grip members land the feed member of themachine.

7. In a can-filling machine of the class described, having a feeding,forming and gripping mechanism to which a reciprocating endwise motionmaybe imparted, and the upper and lower grip members of which arevertitically slidable; iu combination, the shaft 6; the cam 24 keyed tosuch having a lateral groove 24a; the rock-shaft 25 adjacent; the lever27 on such carrying the roller 28, adapted to traverse the cam-groove24a; the lever 29 fixed to the same shaft 25, the end of such leverbeing shaped to enter a slot-hole 30:L in a vertical stem 30; the stem30 slidable vertically in suitable guides, and havinghorizontally-elongated apertures 30b and 30c toward its upper end; thelevers 33 and 40 carrying rollers adapted to move in the apertures 30band 30C, respectively; the shafts 34, to one of which the lever 33 iskeyed, working in suitable bearings on the upper grip-case 10; thegear-wheels 35 keyed to such shafts and meshing together; the shortracks 36 meshing in the outer sides of the gear-wheels, and fixed to thestems 24, slidable vertically in the upper grip-case 10, and to whichthe upper grip IOO IIO

member 23 is attached; the shafts 41 working in the side plates 16between each pair of which such shafts extend, and to an extension ofone of which the lever 40 is fixed; the levers 42 fixed to the oppositeouter ends of the shafts 41; the coupling-rods 43, 43a; the short levers44 fixed to the shafts 41, between the side plates 16, and a dependingportion of the lower grip and feed-plate; the pins 45 between each pairof levers 44 carrying rollers; and elongated openings 14' in thedepending portions of the lower grip member 13 and the feed-plate 51; bywhich vertical movement may be imparted to the grip and feed mechanism,during the reciprocating movement of the same.

S. In a machine for the purpose specied, in which the fish or othermaterial is formed into the desired shape and forced through adelivery-spout having elongated openings, in its bottom, adapted tocooperate with a series of pins, having means by which they areprojected upwardlyT therethrough, and move forward a predetermineddistance and then Withdrawn for a repetition of the operation,wherebythe mass of fish is moved forward at regular intermittent intervals; aseries of chambers rotatably mounted in front of such spout so that eachin succession may be locked in alinement with it; a knife or knivessusceptible of being actuated between spout and chamber during the pausein the forward movement of the sh; a packer-piston in axial alinementwith one chamber while another is in alinement with the spout;projecting pins on the edge of the piston; a stopplate against which, onthe opposite side to the spout, the chambers rotate, such plate beingfixed to the machine frame and having an aperture corresponding to thecross-section ofthe chambers; means whereby the revolver may be moved afraction of its rotation corresponding to the number of its chambers;and means whereby an empty can may be pressed against the rim of theaperture in the plate, and the packer-piston thereafter moved throughthe chamber and the aperture in the stop-plate to express the fish fromthe chamber to the'can, the object of the pins on the piston, being toengage the edges of the can and move its open end out of the aperture SOof the stop-plate.

9. In a machine for filling cans, having a series of revoluble chambersfor the transference of the sections of cut fish from the position ofthe spout to that of the packerpiston; and a stop-plate to close theouter ends of the chambers While opposite the spout and during suchtransference; au opening in said plate for the passage of thefish-section through it from chamber to can, said opening being taperedoutwardly toward the can to form a beveled guide-face against which theopen end of the can is held While being filled; a packer-piston forforcing the section of cut fish out of the revoluble chamber into thecan, said piston having a portion adapted to enin a revolving cylinder,and having a stopplate to close the ends of such chambers duringtransference from the position opposite to the supply-spout, to theposition opposite the packing-piston; a can-carrier fixed to the sameshaft as the revolver and rotating with it, adapted to pick up emptycans from the supply-chute and deliver them, after filling, to thedelivery-chute; a can-presser suitably held opposite each can-carrierspace; means whereby such can-pressers may press the can against the rimof the aperture of the stopplate; and springs to restore them to theirnormal position for the reception and carrying of cans.

11. In a machine for filling cans, having a spout through which theformed fish is forced, in combination with a series of chambers adaptedto receive such, and transfer it when cut; a can -carrier andcan-pressers keyed on the same shaft, the axes of carriers and pressersbeing in alinement with the chambers; the pawl-plate 62; pawl 63;pawl-carriers 64; connecting-rod 65; crank-pin G6 adjustable incrank-disk 67, keyed to the driving-shaft 6; keyed to the same shaft 60as the revolving chambers, dac., the grooved pulley 68, having thefriction-straps 69; the lock-bolt 70 suitably guided, adapted to enterthe detents 59C; the actuating-levers 71 and 73 and shaft 72; the spring'79 pressing the lock-bolt into action; and the suitably-guided rod 74carrying the roller 77, adapted to be engaged and lifted by theprojection 78a on the disk 78 keyed to the cross-shaft 2l; whereby thelockbolt is at proper time withdrawn from the detent 59".

12. VIn a machine as described, having a series of cans in a carrier 92rotating with a series of fish-transferring chambers 59a on oppositesides of a stop-plate 80, having a suitable aperture 80a; thecombination with a similar series of can-pressers 96 fixed to the samestem and rotating in the same axial alinement as chambers andcan-carriers; of the lever 9Sb adapted to bear againsta can-presserstem, when the same is in alinement with the center of the aperture 80a;the shaft 9S; the lever 9Sn carrying the roller 100 adapted to beengaged in the groove 101a of the cam 101 fixed to the driving-shaft 6of the machine, the incline of such cam-groove being designed to pressthe can edge Within and against the rim of the aperture 80 at a suitabletime, and release it thereafter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN REIT'IER BROWN.

In presence of- ROWLAND BRITTAIN, ELLIGE WEBBER.

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